Challenge Updates

New-last-year corner herb bed w/feverfew, oregano & hops - plus some dead thyme!

I'd like to say 'Weekly" update, but so far, that ain't happenin' - this will be a combined update for the past two weeks or so. I think (hope) that once the weather regulates itself & I am able to do my gardening at a steadier pace, my updates will become a little more reliable...one can only hope.


First bed to be planted this year - w/chicken wire protection from the kitties
Independence Days Challenge:
Plant - onion sets, chard, lettuce, spinach, 3 types of radishes (branching out this year), plus the broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower & arugula plants I bought at the Farmer's Market on Saturday.
Harvest - chives, sorrel, a few asparagus stalks from the bed I started last year
Preserve - nada
Reduce waste - I'm just going to list these things this first time; I do this stuff all the time so I'll probably just report "the usual" in future updates: hanging laundry either inside or out as weather permits; recycling and composting as much as possible; using cloth napkins, etc., instead of paper; saving shower warm-up water in a bucket; homemade greeting cards - this month's birthdays & Mother's Day; added first lawn mowing clippings to compost - too many dandelion flowers to just let them lay (I hope to be able to use these next year for jelly, etc.)
Preparation & Storage - took inventory of pantry and chest freezer; scored 3 boxes of canning jars at a yard sale
Build Community Food Systems - opening day at Farmer's Market w/ daughter #1; was able to help daughter #2 stock the cupboards at her new apartment from my food stores; participated in mail carrier food drive using only goods from my pantry
Eat the Food - first asparagus spears, munched sorrel leaves while walking around garden; made some quite tasty hurry-up spaghetti sauce in the microwave using canned tomatoes & dried herbs from last year's harvest

Sorrel & chives next to some wild & crazy thyme

Doing not Thinking Challenge
Short term: got out and dusted off my sewing machine & checked my thread stash; started working on a weekly menu plan
Mid-term: scored 3 boxes of canning jars at a yard sale
Long-term: started thinking about how I want to use the garage so I can organize it - need to put this down on paper
Continuing: collected all my herb books on one shelf of the bookcase

Sewing machine set up on desk, for now

Growing Challenge:
I'm happy to say that my new-last-year plants are up and growing: the asparagus has sent up a few edible stalks, and the hops are ready to climb the wall!
As for seeds, so far not much has gotten planted due to the weather, but I did manage to plant 3 different types of radishes instead of my usual red globe type. I added French Breakfast and White Icicle radishes to the 'menu.'
Not much else is happening in the garden so far; the weather is changing for the better starting this weekend, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed - I've got lots to do!